Release the Kraken 2 Slot by Pragmatic Play

Release the Kraken 2 is an ocean-themed video slot by Pragmatic Play, featuring an adjustable 20-to-40 payline setup with a theoretical RTP of 96.03%, high volatility, and a maximum win of 5,000x your stake. The game stands out for its random base-game modifiers, shifting stacked wilds, and an interactive Deal or No Deal-style bonus negotiation game, making it highly suitable for fans of feature-rich modern slots. Read our full review below to see how these mechanics mesh together, or try the free Release the Kraken 2 demo first to experience the engine without risking your bankroll.

Theme, Graphics and Sound

Pragmatic Play plunges players straight into a colorful submarine kingdom where a cartoonish yet imposing legendary cephalopod acts as both the master of ceremonies and a major high-paying wild. The visual grid of Release the Kraken 2 is framed by animated coral reefs, sun-dappled blue water, and floating air bubbles, establishing a lighthearted underwater aesthetic rather than a terrifying naval nightmare. 

Every premium symbol animates upon participating in a win, bringing a cheerful array of tropical eels, pufferfish, and toothy sharks to life with crisp high-definition polish. The soundtrack relies on a whimsical, adventure-driven cinematic loop that shifts gears instantly into dramatic orchestral stabs whenever bonus scatters tease a landing on the reels.

How to Play Release the Kraken 2

Before spin cycles in Release the Kraken 2 slot are initiated, players adjust their total stakes via the native command panel positioned beneath the lower-right side of the grid.

• Bet Adjustment: Clicking the plus and minus buttons allows players to modify coin values and bet levels, supporting a versatile wagering spectrum ranging from a minimum of 0.20 up to a maximum of 100.00 credits per round.
• Initiating Spins: The central circular arrows trigger a single standard game round, while an optional autoplay menu allows users to set automated spin loops.
• Grid and Payline Setup: The game operates on a fixed 5-reel, 4-row grid with 20 active paylines configured during the regular base game.
• Winning Direction: Payouts require matching symbol combinations to connect along an active line from left to right, always initiating from the leftmost reel.
• Bonus Mechanics: Landing special scatter or wild arrays alters the grid properties dynamically, shifting the core mechanics to elevate the win potential.
• Payout Adjustments: When the flagship bonus round triggers, the entire underlying matrix transforms, automatically doubling the number of structural paylines to 40 for the duration of the feature.

Understanding the baseline grid flow ensures players can track how regular line hits transition into chaotic random modifiers on any random spin.

Symbols and Payouts

The paytable of Release the Kraken 2 mixes traditional card ranks with unique custom illustrations of various deep-sea inhabitants to establish clear value tiers.

The standard layout relies on ten distinct regular paying symbols alongside unique special icons that handle feature activations.

Exact payouts depend on the number of matching symbols and should be checked in the in-game paytable. Regular wins require at least three matching symbols along a valid payline, though the high-paying shark and wild symbols pay out minor cash adjustments when only two land on a path from the left.

Release the Kraken 2 Features

Pragmatic Play has loaded this Release the Kraken 2 machine with an intricate layer of bonus features that add notable gameplay value across both the standard base round and the primary bonus mechanics.

Wild Respin

When four or more standard Kraken wild symbols land on the grid in a single spin, the game locks those wilds into place and initiates a complimentary respin session. The triggering wilds transform into roaming icons that shift positions on the reels between respins, while all other blank symbol zones spin again to find new connections. If an additional wild lands anywhere on the reels during the respin, the feature awards an extra spin cycle and adds the new wild to the moving group, concluding only when a respin yields zero new wild symbols.

Shifting Stacked Wilds

The elongated multi-row Octopus icon represents the Shifting Stacked Wild, which can land natively on the three central reels. If a portion of this oversized wild shows up on reels two, three, or four, it automatically nudges vertically until it covers every single row on that specific column. For every single nudge position in Release the Kraken 2 slot required to bring the stacked wild fully into view, the game increases an attached win multiplier by 1x, combining values across multiple columns if more than one stacked wild nudges into place simultaneously.

Guaranteed Win

On any spin that results in an entirely non-winning combination, the central monster can randomly surface from the depths to manually alter the symbols across the grid. The Kraken shakes the screen to rearrange the regular layout, instantly delivering a guaranteed line hit worth anywhere between 20x and 60x the player’s total stake. Alternatively, the random animation can bypass standard cash adjustments entirely, force-dropping three gold bonus symbols onto the reels to instantly trigger the main free spins round.

Free Spins

Landing three or more Golden Kraken scatters triggers the main bonus feature, though the initial number of spins and multipliers are not static values. Instead, players enter an interactive deal-making minigame showing 16 treasure chests, each filled with custom combinations of free rounds and starting multipliers based on the number of triggering symbols.

• 3 Scatters: Yields chest options containing 4 to 15 free spins paired with a 1x to 6x win multiplier.
• 4 Scatters: Elevates potential chest values to 5 to 20 free spins paired with a 1x to 10x multiplier.
• 5 Scatters: Unlocks the top tier of choices, offering 6 to 20 free spins along with a 1x to 10x multiplier.

The player receives a personal box and must choose to eliminate remaining chests in rounds, prompting the Kraken to offer a specific trade-off value in spins and multipliers based on remaining options.

Bonus Buy

For players residing in jurisdictions that permit direct feature access, the game offers two tailored options to instantly bypass the standard base round. Investing 100x the base stake guarantees a random arrival of 3 to 5 scatter symbols on the upcoming spin to initiate the standard negotiation minigame. Alternatively, buying the VIP option for 250x the stake ensures that exactly 5 scatter symbols land on the grid, maximizing the core boundaries of the initial chest selection pool.

RTP, Volatility and Max Win

Release the Kraken 2 slot has an RTP of up to 96.50%, although some casinos may use lower RTP versions. RTP is a long-term theoretical figure and does not guarantee results in a single session.

Release the Kraken 2 is a high-volatility video slot by Pragmatic Play with an RTP of up to 96.50% and a maximum win of 5,000x the bet. In practical terms, this means you may experience long stretches of smaller wins or losing spins before larger payouts arrive. The biggest rewards are typically linked to Free Spins, stacked multipliers, and successful Wild Respins.

The maximum advertised payout is 5,000x your stake. While reaching this level will be rare, it gives the game enough upside to attract players who enjoy higher-risk slot experiences. In our view, the base game can occasionally feel quiet between major features, which is typical for a high-volatility design.

Release the Kraken 2 Free Play

You can play Release the Kraken 2 in free demo mode before wagering real money. The free-play mode uses virtual credits, so there is no deposit or financial risk involved, and any demo winnings cannot be withdrawn. Release the Kraken 2 demo free-play mode mirrors the structural behavior, hit frequency, and bonus probabilities of the real-money edition exactly, making it an excellent educational tool. Utilizing the free version allows players to test the volatility curves firsthand, analyze the pacing of the base game modifiers, and experiment with the chest-elimination minigame without placing actual currency at risk.

Mobile Experience

This underwater slot functions flawlessly across portable devices, boasting full operational optimization for both iOS and Android platforms. Release the Kraken 2 runs natively within mobile browsers via HTML5 deployment, meaning players do not need to look for or download a dedicated standalone app to run the software. The touch-friendly interface repositions essential controls to keep the 5×4 matrix clean and easily readable in both portrait and landscape orientation modes. All supplementary settings, including turbo spin, autoplay loops, bet selectors, and the paytable documentation, remain accessible via quick-tap icons designed for thumb navigation.

Pros and Cons

Before deciding whether Release the Kraken 2 suits your preferences, consider its strengths and weaknesses.

Advantages

• Strong 5,000x maximum win potential
• Feature-rich gameplay with multiple random events
• Entertaining Wild Respins mechanic
• Enhanced Free Spins with 40 paylines
• Release the Kraken 2 demo mode widely available

Disadvantages

• High volatility can create long dry spells
• Bonus round may take time to trigger naturally
• Some casinos may offer lower RTP versions

These points provide a realistic picture of what players can expect from the slot.

Our Verdict

We would recommend Release the Kraken 2 to players who enjoy high-volatility slots with deep bonus depth and interactive decision-making. The base game can feel quiet between stronger feature hits, which is typical for this volatility level, but the inclusion of random modifiers like shifting stacked wilds ensures the standard spins do not become entirely stale. It may not suit players who prefer frequent small wins or classic paylines, but the demo is worth trying if you like games such as Big Bass Bonanza or Gates of Olympus.

Remember that slot results are random, and no strategy, timing method, or betting pattern can guarantee a win. Play for entertainment, set limits, and avoid chasing losses.